A 35-year-old man used a flammable substance to fire balls of flames from his mouth during three recent incidents, including pyrotechnic displays near a church and a gas pump, police said.

Jeffrey Wasula, of 12 Park St., was charged with counts of reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct after he allegedly blew flames out of his mouth inside a church and a grocery store and near convenience store gas pumps, police said. The Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumberland Farms and Mohawk Harvest are all on Gloversville's Main Street.

Gloversville police arrested Wasula on Monday. The incidents allegedly took place between March 18 and 26, police said.

Wasula's actions created a serious risk for "physical injury for subjects in close proximity and the risk of starting a fire," according to the police report.

Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market employees recognized Wasula when he entered the store on Saturday, store general manager Chris Curro said, and they greeted him by name.

Wasula, whom Curro described as an "occasional customer," appeared to be under the influence of drugs, Curro said.

"One of my employees said that this fellow was consuming an aerosol can through his mouth," Curro said. "I said, 'I don't think we sell anything that's aerosol.' It's a natural food store."

As Wasula was leaving, "he took a long swig of it and lit a match and put fire into the air," Curro said, later adding the flames were not close to any customers.

Employees reacted calmly, Curro said. "We've been seven years in business in the downtown location and have never seen anybody do anything like it."

Wasula was arraigned in City Court and held on $2,500 bail at the Fulton County jail.

Calls to a number listed for Wasula were not returned on Wednesday. A person who identified herself as a relative of Wasula declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday.